Amateur-built QUAIL accident near Waynesboro, Mississippi, August 11, 1994
On August 11, 1994 at about 9:30 pm local time, a amateur-built QUAIL, registered N10JB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waynesboro, Mississippi. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE [OVERHAUL] OF THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 1994 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Waynesboro, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built QUAIL
- Registration
- N10JB · registry record · serial BAQ-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE EXPERIMENTAL HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE HAD JUST REACHED CRUISE ALTITUDE WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A CORNFIELD AND THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT HAD SEIZED DUE TO THE CRANKSHAFT HAVING NO END PLAY, AS REQUIRED. THE CRANKSHAFT MAIN BEARING HAD ALSO FAILED ALLOWING THE DOWEL RODS TO SCORE INTO THE CRANKSHAFT. THE LOGBOOKS WERE INCOMPLETE; THE PERSON WHO INSTALLED THE CRANKSHAFT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen CONVERSION (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from MEI, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.